Prince Harry apologised last night for using the term “Paki” about a member of his platoon after he was caught on camera making racist remarks and mocking the Queen.

In the film, taken on a camcorder in 2006 while Harry was training to be an officer, the young prince refers to an Asian army colleague as “our little Paki friend” and jokes with another that he looks like a “raghead”, an offensive term for an Arab.

Last night Clarence House issued an apology for the 24-year-old’s behaviour, saying, “Prince Harry fully understands how offensive this term can be, and is extremely sorry for any offence his words might cause.”

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An aide said that Harry had never intended to insult his friend, adding: “On this occasion three years ago, Prince Harry used the term without any malice and as a nickname about a highly popular member of his platoon.

“There is no question that Prince Harry was in any way seeking to insult his friend.”

A d v e r t i s e m e n t

In further clips from the film Harry mocks his grandmother, the Queen, amid laughter from his colleagues, as he pretends to end a phone call with her by saying: “I’ve got to go, got to go. Send my love to the corgis. Send my love to the corgis and grandpa.” He then adds: “God Save You . . .”

The footage was shot as Harry joined other cadets at a training camp in Cyprus – just a year after he courted controversy for turning up at a fancy dress party as a Nazi soldier complete with swastika on his shirt sleeve. The incident in January 2005, forced the then 20-year-old to apologise.